Rep. McKeon: Defense Bill Will Get Done This Year

It’s been more than 50 years since U.S. lawmakers last failed to complete work on the annual defense authorization bill. A key House architect said Thursday they don’t plan to break that streak this year.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R., Calif.) said he expects House and Senate lawmakers to be able to pass the wide-ranging bill to set Pentagon policy before the year’s end, despite the brief time frame and big disagreements over how to move forward.

“I am confident that we will get a deal and that’s why I don’t want to say anything to undermine the deal that we’re working on,” Mr. McKeon told reporters, suggesting House and Senate lawmakers have been in talks in recent weeks…

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